FP Racer":1vhwz0bi said:
NOLA counts in our Conference for Divisional points so just leave your car with Fowler and do the Atlanta races, a Majors and a Divisional and the Daytona Divisional plus the NOLA and you're all set. There is also a Double SARRC scheduled at Daytona on the 1st weekend of August that you can run for practice. You would need to change Region of record to SEDiv region.
I know it's contrary to the typical belief nowadays, but I've never paid to have my car prepped, developed, stored, or transported, and although I've always really liked Tom and the guys at OPM, that won't be changing. :lol:
Through the work of guys like you and Butch, the possible ways to get Runoffs qualified in the SEDiv are varied and well publicized. Here though in the SowDiv, neither is the case. The SCCA website says participate in four eligible weekends and finish in the top three of your Divisional Championship, and you'll earn an invitation. However, the SowDiv only has four "eligible weekends" remaining on the schedule between now and mid-August, so you better not have any problems or scheduling conflicts. Unfortunately, unlike the SEDiv and CenDiv where some Majors can count towards your Divisional Championship, the SowDiv specifically disallows it: "SWRRC points are separate and distinct from any SCCA Majors that a driver may earn. Majors will not be considered in the SWRRC." Plus like I said earlier, no contingencies available at the Divisionals, and that's a big deal for me.
I know for sure that I can get in by running three Majors weekends, regardless of where they are, so that's what's gonna happen. (Also need to finish at least three races and be in the top half of national points.) It's really too bad, as the four remaining SWRRC races are all within 3-3.5 hours of my house, yet the closest Majors is nearly 9.
EPrill":1vhwz0bi said:
August is obviously not the preferred time frame from a weather standpoint, but the Division and Majors program believe it still has an opportunity for a good turnout. Would I prefer both as a racer and organizer for it to be earlier? Sure. But the options were very limited. Some will certainly make a decision not to go because of the Runoffs or the weather. Some may prefer to go there than the Runoffs! Every decision doesn't work for every person.
Is there no reason to believe that a February-May'ish weekend at COTA won't become available in the forseeable future, like this August one has? It worries me to lock ourselves into a weekend that makes such little sense other than "Well, it'll draw some entries." It's COTA, that will always be the case, at all times, but why take up a weekend that will seriously handcuff itself from the get-go? Why not hold out for a weekend that better fits our needs in future seasons, especially when you already have an alternative event sitting there that will close out a long-standing venue? Heck, I'd even entertain the idea of a October-November time-frame 2016 Majors event at COTA.
kruck":1vhwz0bi said:
...no one is going to be excited about racing there in that heat, and a limited number of out of Division entries will be interested in making a long trek to it when they're in the middle of finishing their own Conference/Divisional schedules, prepping for The Runoffs, and looking at another serious trek to Daytona only a month later.
I forgot to add the double Divisional at Daytona August 8-9th, as it'll also effect an August event at COTA.
Just trying to offer a constructive opinion for the betterment of the club, nothing personal to anyone, and not gonna throw a hissy fit with whatever we end up with. I trust that whatever we end up, with decision makers believed it was the best option available upon considering them all.
